Celebrating Birthdays that May Be Overlooked by the Holiday Rush

I've had birthday parties on the brain lately. It seems like it is always a struggle to help children feel unique and special when their birthday falls during a busy time of the year.

In our household, we have three birthdays within the two weeks before and after Christmas. It is such a chaotic, busy time of year it's difficult to plan birthday celebrations. One of those birthdays happens to be mine, and I remember feeling slightly cheated each year when my birthday rolled around. I'm trying to find a way to avoid my children feeling that way since the other two birthdays belong to them. They're too young to understand now but one day they will.

One solution I used when I taught preschool was the half birthday party. Everyone has one and when you're young half birthdays mean you are just that much closer to being a year older. Clearly you are so much cooler, and more grown up, at four and a half than you could have possibly been at just four. I think this will work well with my kids because my December baby can celebrate in June and my January baby can celebrate in July. Not to mention we don't have to worry about snowstorms canceling our plans like we do in the winter (gotta love the Midwest!)

For the half birthday celebration everything is done in halves. You sing the first half of the "Happy Birthday" song, take a break, and later sing the other half. You make half a birthday cake. Plates can be cut in half and glasses can be filled half full.

There are lots of options for additional party activities.

You can paint half of each child's face.

Children can bob for half an apple.

"Who's My Other Half?" is a great game for older children.

Print the individual names of famous pairs on index cards. For example, print Fred Flinstone on one card and Barney Rubble on the other. You will need one card for each party guest. Tape one index card to the back of each guest. Set everyone free to mingle. Guests have to ask questions of each other in order to determine which name is on the card they are wearing. When they know who they are they can set out to find their other half.

We do intend to have small family celebrations for our children's actual birthdays but are looking forward to helping them celebrate their half birthdays in style.